# of Open Roster Spots

Donate To GopherHole
Fleck is definitely looking to bring in a kicker to compete with Jackson. I wonder if the Bowling Green kicker will sign after his visit today.
 

Our current roster for 2026 has 21 DL listed (counting Mo Omonode): 15 carryovers from 2025, one transfer and five incoming FR. That's a huge number of guys to carry for 4 spots on defense, especially when the DEs are already known. This "excess" will limit the numbers we can take in the portal, but the good news is that the Gophs probably aren't paying most of the DL guys on the roster much more than the base amount.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
Our current roster for 2026 has 21 DL listed (counting Mo Omonode): 15 carryovers from 2025, one transfer and five incoming FR. That's a huge number of guys to carry for 4 spots on defense, especially when the DEs are already known. This "excess" will limit the numbers we can take in the portal, but the good news is that the Gophs probably aren't paying most of the DL guys on the roster much more than the base amount.
Click to expand...

PJ also regularly rotates DL guys. Anywhere from 8-12 can play during a game.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
Our current roster for 2026 has 21 DL listed (counting Mo Omonode): 15 carryovers from 2025, one transfer and five incoming FR. That's a huge number of guys to carry for 4 spots on defense, especially when the DEs are already known. This "excess" will limit the numbers we can take in the portal, but the good news is that the Gophs probably aren't paying most of the DL guys on the roster much more than the base amount.
Click to expand...
Doesn't need to be 105 until opening night. Guys will see the writing on the wall in spring ball and move on
 

Added K Beckham Sunderland from the Wolverines. K/O specialist?
 


Added Robbins, P, from Utah State and Bush, Edge, from Cal.
 

Because of the large HS class (31 signees) plus a transfer class up to 12 members, the Gophers are now very near a full roster of 105. We still need an experienced TE and another experienced DT.
I suspect that, before the portal closes on Jan. 20th, we might see a few more rostered players hit the portal. Once in the portal, they can complete the transfer anytime. Or, maybe, after the academic year ends in the spring, a few rostered players simply retire from football. At the moment, counting transfers and HS recruits who have signed LOIs, the Gophers have 22 DL on the hypothetical 2026 roster. That is meaningfully more than we or other teams usually carry for those 4 spots, especially with a 105 roster limit. So, if PJ keeps scoring in the portal,I think there must be a few DL guys whose days are numbered.
 
Last edited:


Gophergrandpa said:
Because of the large HS class (31 signees) plus a transfer class up to 12 members, the Gophers are now very near a full roster of 105. We still need an experienced DE and another experienced DT.
I suspect that, before the portal closes on Jan. 20th, we might see a few more rostered players hit the portal. Once in the portal, they can complete the transfer anytime. Or, maybe, after the academic year ends in the spring, a few rostered players simply retire from football. At the moment, counting transfers and HS recruits who have signed LOIs, the Gophers have 22 DL on the hypothetical 2026 roster. That is meaningfully more than we or other teams usually carry for those 4 spots, especially with a 105 roster limit. So, if PJ keeps scoring in the portal,I think there must be a few DL guys whose days are numbered.
Click to expand...
With the Bush add I think we're done with Edge/DE's
 






Many thanks for doing this, gives a great, clear look with all the moves happening.
 







So, I finally went and looked at the House Settlement explanation regarding roster limits. To mitigate harm (a bit) from the roster cut down to 105, there is a roster exemption for "Designated Student Athletes," defined as (essentially), players who would have been cut loose once the 105 roster limit was in place, and were either (1) on the roster during the 2024-25 academic year or (2) recruited prior to August 7, 2025. The Designation of such exempt athletes had to be filed with the NCAA within 30 days of the House Settlement's finalization. The Designation cannot be amended or expanded (it is a shrinking pool as the years go on and players lose eligibility).

Here's the kicker: the roster exemption for Designated Student Athletes is good only for those who do not receive aid or settlement benefits. In other words, Designated Student Athletes who are on the roster above the 105 roster limit are essentially "walk-ons," not getting paid. So, it is possible that PJ has a shrinking cadre of players who are Designated Student Athletes, not getting paid, who either just love being on the team or who are hoping to gain a paid roster spot in an upcoming year. This group of exempt players should shrink each season until 2029, when it would expire. I've currently got the Gophers at 9 players over the 2026 roster limit of 105 (8 if Mo Omonode is out??). But maybe some of the "excess" are designated Student Athletes under the House Settlement, who can stay on the roster so long as they don't receive aid or settlement benefits.

I'm sure PJ and his GM have this the roster math titrated down to a gnat's ass.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
So, I finally went and looked at the House Settlement explanation regarding roster limits. To mitigate harm (a bit) from the roster cut down to 105, there is a roster exemption for "Designated Student Athletes," defined as (essentially), players who would have been cut loose once the 105 roster limit was in place, and were either (1) on the roster during the 2024-25 academic year or (2) recruited prior to August 7, 2025. The Designation of such exempt athletes had to be filed with the NCAA within 30 days of the House Settlement's finalization. The Designation cannot be amended or expanded (it is a shrinking pool as the years go on and players lose eligibility).

Here's the kicker: the roster exemption for Designated Student Athletes is good only for those who do not receive aid or settlement benefits. In other words, Designated Student Athletes who are on the roster above the 105 roster limit are essentially "walk-ons," not getting paid. So, it is possible that PJ has a shrinking cadre of players who are Designated Student Athletes, not getting paid, who either just love being on the team or who are hoping to gain a paid roster spot in an upcoming year. This group of exempt players should shrink each season until 2029, when it would expire. I've currently got the Gophers at 9 players over the 2026 roster limit of 105 (8 if Mo Omonode is out??). But maybe some of the "excess" are designated Student Athletes under the House Settlement, who can stay on the roster so long as they don't receive aid or settlement benefits.

I'm sure PJ and his GM have this the roster math titrated down to a gnat's ass.
Click to expand...
The numbers always seem to work out in the end and I am sure the staff knows how many spots they have to work with.

Things have really slowed down so assume we are basically at our roster limit but won't shock me if there is still some more shuffling that happens.
 

 

MaxyJR1 said:

List from Minnesota Tribune​

Gophers 2026 transfer portal class​

Click to expand...
lol....that was the best pick they could find of TJ Bush? I mean I get that it shows him playing Minnesota but most of his body is completely hidden by Drake's.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
So, I finally went and looked at the House Settlement explanation regarding roster limits. To mitigate harm (a bit) from the roster cut down to 105, there is a roster exemption for "Designated Student Athletes," defined as (essentially), players who would have been cut loose once the 105 roster limit was in place, and were either (1) on the roster during the 2024-25 academic year or (2) recruited prior to August 7, 2025. The Designation of such exempt athletes had to be filed with the NCAA within 30 days of the House Settlement's finalization. The Designation cannot be amended or expanded (it is a shrinking pool as the years go on and players lose eligibility).

Here's the kicker: the roster exemption for Designated Student Athletes is good only for those who do not receive aid or settlement benefits. In other words, Designated Student Athletes who are on the roster above the 105 roster limit are essentially "walk-ons," not getting paid. So, it is possible that PJ has a shrinking cadre of players who are Designated Student Athletes, not getting paid, who either just love being on the team or who are hoping to gain a paid roster spot in an upcoming year. This group of exempt players should shrink each season until 2029, when it would expire. I've currently got the Gophers at 9 players over the 2026 roster limit of 105 (8 if Mo Omonode is out??). But maybe some of the "excess" are designated Student Athletes under the House Settlement, who can stay on the roster so long as they don't receive aid or settlement benefits.

I'm sure PJ and his GM have this the roster math titrated down to a gnat's ass.
Click to expand...
Wait, what acronym has PJ created for TITRATED?

More sincerely, thanks for tracking this stuff, I find it interesting.
 

MaxyJR1 said:

List from Minnesota Tribune​

Gophers 2026 transfer portal class​

Click to expand...
Obviously we’re all biased, but I think this is a super solid class to go alongside one of the best HS classes PJ has pulled in years.

Bush was an extremely productive P4 player, Chapman’s tape looks outstanding, West played a ton of snaps in the B1G, and there’s a few former prospects who were very highly rated (much higher than is typical at MN) like Warren and Thompson. Excited to see how it shakes out…
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom